Rita Enemuru, Reporting
OPERATIVES of the Delta State Police Command have smashed a notorious kidnapping ring, rescuing three abducted victims and recovering an AK-47 rifle following a fierce gun battle in the Issele-Uku area.
The operation, which unfolded on Monday, saw security forces engage members of the syndicate in a violent exchange of fire deep within the bush, leaving one suspect dead and another in custody with gunshot wounds.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, the breakthrough began when a kidnapping report was lodged at the Issele-Uku Division. The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aderemi Badiru, immediately mobilised a joint team comprising military personnel, local vigilantes, and hunters to track down the gang.
The team stormed identified hideouts in the surrounding forest, leading to a tense confrontation with the armed group. During the shootout, three victims were rescued unharmed and have since been reunited with their families.
One of the suspected kidnappers sustained fatal injuries during the clash and was later confirmed dead. His body has been deposited in a mortuary.
A sustained sweep of the area led to the apprehension of 22-year-old Ahmadu Hassan, a native of Kange Village in Nasarawa State, who was discovered with gunshot wounds. He is currently receiving medical attention while under police guard. A search of the scene also uncovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with four rounds of live ammunition.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, commended the gallantry and synergy displayed by the operatives and their partner security outfits. He vowed that the Command would maintain pressure on criminal networks across the state and urged residents to continue providing credible information to aid police efforts.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with manhunts launched to track down fleeing members of the syndicate.
